Catholic Latina listens to the wee voice of the Spirit in Scotland

Education or social work? Middle school teacher seeks vocational discernment as a YAV

By Constanza Petersen | Mission Crossroads Magazine

2017–18 Scotland YAVs (left to right) Leila Wright, Constanza Petersen, Callista Malone and Katie Henderson. Photo courtesy of Constanza Petersen

For as long as I can remember, every prayer has begun and ended with the sign of the cross. The sign of the cross has been the catalyst for, and the conclusion to, every Mass I have ever attended. The sign of the cross is indicative of my religious and Latina identity.

As a child, I ended all prayers with the sign of the cross. My parents, however, would seal their prayers with the sign of the cross and a kiss of their thumb. Although I never asked, I assumed, and maybe subconsciously knew, this must be related to my parents’ ethnicity. Having attended a few Spanish Masses in the U.S. and in Argentina, I noted that a majority of Spanish-speaking Catholics made this same symbolic gesture of kissing the cross by representing the cross with their thumb overlapping their forefinger.

This small, learned gesture has been carried with me to where I find myself today, in Glasgow, Scotland. Although a year ago I was doing the sign of the cross in a relaxed college-town church, today I finish prayers with an “Amen” alongside other parishioners in a welcoming and loving Church of Scotland community.

I would never have expected to find myself going to Church of Scotland services every Sunday if it hadn’t been for the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Four years ago, I graduated from the University of Oregon with bachelor’s degrees in family and human services and Spanish. While my initial intention was a career in social work, I was inspired by local internship experiences to pursue a master’s degree in education. After teaching middle school for three years, I’m now discerning God’s vocational calling on my life — education or social work.

Wanting to spend a year in service and discernment, I researched volunteer opportunities that would allow me to reflect on my calling to serve youth. My exploration led me to the YAV program because its core tenets deeply resonated with me and what I was looking for.

Applying online was the easy part. The application took time, but my anticipation didn’t start growing until the interviews, which were comforting and unsettling all at once. The interviews were comforting in that they confirmed that the YAV program would allow me to grow. Applying was unsettling because although I was excited about the program, I was also nervous about being part of a faith-based program that was of a different faith background.

These fears were quickly squashed during the YAV “dis-” orientation event. Here I was welcomed into a family, a family I didn’t know existed or realized I was missing. At the end of our week, I cried, thinking about our parting. I didn’t know then that I would find such a loving family and community with the Church of Scotland. Regardless of where I’ve come from and where I find myself today, whether I make the sign of the cross sealed by a kiss or finish a prayer with an “Amen,” my feelings are reflected in what the minister said last Sunday:

“Though some of us may travel on different paths, we are all on the same faith journey.”   

This article is from the Spring 2018 issue of Mission Crossroads magazine, which is printed and mailed free to subscribers’ homes within the U.S. three times a year by Presbyterian World Mission. To subscribe, visit pcusa.org/missioncrossroads.

Be a YAV!

To learn more about the Young Adult Volunteer program or to apply to serve as a YAV, visit youngadultvolunteers.org/apply. Apply by March 1 for international service and by June 1 for national service.

Walk beside YAVs

Pray, engage and read blogs from current volunteers: pcusa.org/newyavs